Sinker for knitting machine



F. F. BILLlNGS SINKER FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 27, 1927.

Filed May 24, 1926 fr* Eff/075.5,"

31mm Hoz Dec. 27, 1927. 1,653,886

l F. F. BILLINGS SINKER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 24. 1926 2 Sheets-Shegt 2 gwuen T01 W/neses 1 @Que/A] c-MMWM/ MAJ l Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

FRED E. EILLINGsjor BELMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SINKER FOR KNITTIG MACHINES.

Application inea May c4,

. spring.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of aset of sinkers of original form equal in number to the needles with which they vare used with `novel means for mounting the sinkers onthe wall of a knitting machine-cylinder in proper relation to the needles and a camfor automatically operating the sinkers in proper timed relation.

The advantages of sinkers in knitting machine construction to facilitate speed and accuracy of performance are well known,

, but heretobefore it has been deemedl impossible to use them on machines of the type mentioned above because, in common practice, the ring or frame required for mounting such sinkers formed an `obstruction which cut off ready access toy the work in process of completion within the machine.

It is therefore another salient object of the invention to eliminate the diihculty mentioned yabove by making available, a simple, free running and inexpensive sinker mechanism, requiring no other frame'than the wall of the cylinder itself. f y A still further obfect `of the invention is to provide a novel sinker construction and operating means ofthe character described, which will be durable and` efficient in use, one that will be simple and easytomanutacture `and one which can be placed upon the market and incorporated with a .cylinder knitting machine at a small cost.

With these and other objectsin view, the invention consists inthe novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a hand operated cylinder knitting Ania; chine showing the set of sinkers incorporated therewith and the cams for operating the same, v

192e. serial-No. mees.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portiony otra hand operated cylinder knitting machine showing the sets of novel sinkers in-L corporated therewith `and the cam for ac tuating the saine,V

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section through the wall of 4the cylinderV of the knitting machine showing the novel means employed for mounting one ol the` novel sinkers in place, the view showing the normal position oi the sinker,

Figure t is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the sinker in its operated position.

Referring to the drawings in det-ail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally. indicates a cylinderknitting machine comprising a cylinder' 5 having a plurality of vertical slots 6 for the reception of the usual needles 7. The Wall of the cylinder 5 intermediate the slots 6 is provided with vertically disposed radial grooves 8 for the reception oi the novel sinkers 9, `which are of a special construction, and which will be hereinafter specifically described. It is to be noted at the present time that each groove 8 gradually decreases in depth toward its lower end and that the inner wall of the groove at a point intermediate the ends of the groove is provided with a relativelydeep arcuate recess 10 i'or receiving a portion of the sinker 9 which will be also described. w Rotatably mounted on the cylinder 5 is the cam shell 11 which is actuated in the usual manner and carries the ordinary V- stitch cam 12 and the cam shell l1 `is oper ated in either direction as common to all knitting machines. At one side of the Vf stitch cam 12, the cam shell 11 has secured thereto the usual yarn guide support, which inthe present instance. has secured toits inner face, a bumper 14, which forms a part of the present invention. p Each sinker 9 comprises a single piece of formed metal having a body portion 15 by which it is` maintained in proper alinement, and an inwardly and downwardly directed: arm 16 is formed on the inner edge ot4 the body 15 adjacent tothe upper end'thereof and this arm projects through a slot in the upper edge of the cylinder and terminates in a hook 17, the purpose of which 'will be described. The body portion 15 at its inner edge is provided with an inwardly directed bearing portion 18 which is iitted needle retaining springn The bearing for reisinkeiris completed by having a part'ofl Within `thereon-is `ltlpby Whichiitpiswkept at a iixed height witliireepect to `tlie .top ofthe cylinder and in which it is free to exercise. a slight oscillating. motion.. as will be de-4 p scribed. Directly below the bearing Aportion 18 the body is provided Withuanroutwardly` directed butt portion or trip arin 19 tlnouh which the motion is cornninnieatedato tie,

sinker as a Whole. The upper portion oi' thebody l5 terminates inf a Work` hoolr 2O onxfomnandl function-1 commento all sink# eisr. Theeffunction of this hoolr'is "to 1 seize the edge 1 of the knitted web"` between i the stitches as each course of stitches is formed byfthreneedicenL rto sinki' it to its propen level andlto hold it therenntil theustitch in the nenti conrrse 1 higher up' ie: about to be ij'orined, Wlileniit inustopen ioifiitwardiyf for a 1 brief interivallto allowitheireceptionoi the yarn for the new stitch. The ai'inilll oi'ithe sinker 9 is`1-oi11suclii formi ,asi to extend through to: the interior roffithe needle cylinder 5 Where its hooked extremity l? receives :inw annular helical retaining' spiringv-L11,.1 which pesi-ies aronnd'ithe inside of the 1: cyiindei and lilce Wise 1 engages `levery suiker rn the set. The

inmfwrd-lplulleof the springs Q1 acting on all of? "the sinkersftogether is suiiicient to hold them impleeeion the-cylinder,- so 1 that they function fieeljr yWithout anyE other ineens ot suppcntl` The retaining spring 22 on` the exteriov off the cylinderis or retaining `the needles: only and the# notch 23 int the outer face1 oiithebody 15' oleach sinlrerfis to permit thee passage of the spring-L around the saine:- 1 1 Itiswnecessary, .however; that a part 1 oi the body loflthei sinkers bef imbedded the cylinden wall under the *needle retaining sprinlgflQQand Efor this l reason :the notch 23 is out ii'oinl` the i body/1' orf L the; `sinlier and the 1 bearing portion f1 181 odlthe sforna 1 of the@ arc oi?"` a-l circlei `.is made` iconcentrcl` with the center oil theM said@ notch 23rso that the sinker 1 is able to oscillare: about; the springQQ'; as a icon-1 ter,".bnt 'on la ibearingfentirely separate tliere1- filoni. thus avoidingl interference 1with the lfgroove inithe cylinder cutvin-i a correr sponlding arcuate .1 *formi` concentriclwith. the

needlel retaining ispringvgroove 23",* but1 oil 1 slightly` less arc thanil-thebearing` portion off the einher. *In this-groene o1'notch 110 the sinker resterandoscillatesx1r 1 l 1 i ldotioni isfiinpartedi to theisinlrere by ca-in, 2'5` pivotaliyfrniounted on a postfQGf at This along` thewline of sinliers' i aswtlici com 1f sh el I. l. i with `ite attended cams progreseesiin itsrcvolution around the cylinder 5. It is necessary that thisv` openepeceinthe, series of sinlrcrs 9"""be'maintained Slightiji "iii advance of the center-coi thee-stitch cain 12, as this is the point at which the yarn is drawn into the web. by the needles-11T. To accomplish this, the ende oi the cani 25 are disposed in thc path oi' the yarn 1 guide `suppiirting1muniul, whicli is sinrniadc asn1to1iiseu1n1ei mlixed porsi#` tion i1r1advzu1ee 1 ofi thveu stitch cani `l2;` no* matten in wliich directionithe machine iswhcw ing; run411 1 Thefcanitrip or humpervleis suitablyxilo lated on the yarn guide*supportingxwrrn1131 Afor hiring-inw the ends oli the cani 2151 1 toward thc-1 cylinder, tl'ici'ebio` hringingwthc WorkingV t 'face oithie" cuni into actiolillon theusiinker which: lie jon thea 1 leadingi side loft the itcl cano lil.: llheutlie machine vislrerereec bien actionis autoniaticall)v transferred towtlie` opposite endiottliccinnLQJv .`1 The arin1 lil of ezicli einher 19 tern'iiruites:` inra dcpendiirgipoi tion d116/ ^which acts asa a1 guard ton proven thenewly started web fromiheconuinpgrciu1l tangled u'fitl'il the hooks 117. 1 1 Fronirthe foregoing dcscriipmtioirg` ituczunibc 1 seen. tliatvnovcl ineansi hasrbeen1p1'ovidedlfor1 ino uniting sinlrers on 1a'icylinder1knittiiwi lia; A chine `directly on` the cylinder` Without i t he use oiextraneous snliportingimenne, andi Whiclrarc `so ounstructctii 1 and arranged fas low perfor-1n their function: pioperiqy' `witl-iout in y terierence Witlianyfl other parte o'tlic nun im chine. t i

Changed in details may` bei unade withoutl departing:1` from the .spiritonuscoptiwo` this: invention, but: 1 p 1 1 1 What lola-inl as :new isrr. i t 1 t 1. In `arcylilrder knitting machinegwaicyliinden having; ysiots, forlnecltz therein;4 zu i 1 set ofi sinkers: liavingabody portions directly nimmt# ed 1 on f the Wall t of -Athe 11 cylinder 'and :having-f arms thereon lentendinglinterioriyi of .the cyll l inder in spaced relation .to the 'body iportionp and isingile springeirgagingrxtlie liniier11faces oallfofsaid1`arn:1s.:\` u i 1 1 2; 1 In a; cylinder Llmidiliinrr maiohneu acylil i inider s' having ilslots 1 forme l therein;` sirilteirel roolably 1 mounted l oir the-1i outer linee of thel Wahl ofi thi-if'` cylinder; I inwairdly 1 and if downll Wardiyfjdirectedarms lon ythesinlnnre extenidl ing throughithe slots tern natinf'gi in hooksi and aispring a engaging 1thei liooks i for; holdingthesinliersinplace. i :3c Inaicylinderilmitti "machine cyia1 inderA fhaving 1 pinraldty ot f slots therein, fall set oiiisiinlrers havingrimearinfigs ifrmed :thereu i f i 1 on, the Walilrofvthei1cyliiiderfihelowithei elorsr 125 inv alinenient therewit-lru having bearing grooves `fon receivingi the hearings 11 11 of `1 thlei` sinkers,` armsw formedonithei sinkens extend ingr throughfthew slots.` and l directedidmwnw Wardly toward the interior of the cylinder; 130

ill?

and an annular spring engaging the arms for holding the sinlrers in position.

4. In a cylinder knitting machine, a cylinder having slots formed therein, a sinker mounted exteriorly of the cylinder for rocking movement thereon having an arm projecting through the slots tothe interior of the cylinder, and a single spring engaging the arms for holding the sinlrers in place without the use of any extraneous supports.

5. In a cylinder knitting machine, a cylin der having a plurality of Slots therein, needles mounted inthe slots, the cylinder having slots between the needle slots, a sink er in alinement with yeach of the last mentioned slots, an arm on the sinker extending through the last mentioned slots into the interior of the cylinder, an annular spring engaging the arms for holding the same in position, an exterior spring surrounding the cylinder for holding the needles, each sinlrer having an arcuate recess for receiving the last mentioned spring and abearing on each sinlrer engaging the wall of the cylinder concentric with but separate from the last mentioned spring, as and yfor the purpose speciiied.

6. ln a cylinder knitting machine. a cylinder having slots therein, needles positioned in the slots, means for'holding the needles in place, the cylinder also having sinker slots formed therein intermediate the needle slots, a sinlrer for each slot, an arm on each sinlrer projecting through the slots to the interior of the cylinder, resilient means engaging the arms for holdingthe sinker in position,

trip arms formed on the ends of the sinkers,

a cam shell rotatable about the cylinder, a

stitch cam on the cylinder, a cam pivotally mounted on the center line of the stitch cam lfor engaging the trip arms for actuating said sinkers.

7 In a cylinder knitting machine, a cylinder having needle slots therein and sinker slots intermediate the needle slots, a cam shell revoluble about the cylinder, a sinker for each sinker slot, an arm on each sinker projecting through the sinker slot to the interior. of the cylinder, a radially extending trip arm on the lower end of each sinker, a sinker operating cam on the cam shell having working faces on its opposite end to engage alternately with the trip arms, and a yarn engaging arm on the cam shell forengaging either end of said sinker operating cam according to the direction of rotation o said shell.

8. A sinker comprising a body, an arm on the body, a spring holding hook on the arm, and a guard extending beyond the hook to prevent the knitted web from being tangled in said hook.`

9. A sinker comprising a body, an arcuate arm formed on the inner edge of the body adjacent to the upper end thereof, a yarn engaging hook on the body abovethe arm, a holding hook on the arm, a guard for said hook on the arm below the hook, an angularlyextending trip arm on the lower end of the body projecting in a direction opposite to the iirst mentioned arm, an arcuate notch in the body above the trip arm, and a bearing portion on the inner edge of the body concentric with said notch.

In testimony whereof vI affix my signature.

FRED F. BILLIN GS. 

